I either will or will not have heartburn already (first time I didn't, this time I did). First time, I had just eaten a healthy meal but with a very spicy sauce; tonight, I hadn't eaten anything for about 8 hours (because I'd had heartburn all day) and before that I had eaten pasta with NO trigger foods.

Same thing both times - I was sitting on the couch. Today my heartburn had disappeared and I was thinking I could get some sleep when I felt like my heartburn was returning with a vengeance - again, all I had eaten in 8 hours was a lot of gum, antacid tablets, and sips of room temp water. So I stand up to get whatever's upsetting my tummy moving on out, and it just gets gradually worse and worse (all in the space of about 5 minutes) until the pain is so bad I can only take shuddering breaths and I am sweating like an animal.

Both times, I went to the ER, only to find that soon after arriving, my symptoms magically melt away.

Before anyone asks, I am POSITIVE that my symptoms are not brought on by stress. Both times I was relaxing at home shortly before bedtime; going to the ER is both stressful AND expensive for me, but that's the location where my symptoms vanish.

I also HAD taken my daily 40mg of Nexium for the day - I just started about a month ago.

I believe with the spicy food it's because the spices irritated your stomach.The empty stomach was hungry and the gum chewing, water drinking, and antiacids was making it produce acid in preparation for the food it wants. When it didn't get food the acid started irritating the vegus nerve causing the pain and sweats.

I never went to the ER with my acid reflux. I had a very good doctor who knew why I was hurting so much and he gave me the proper medicines to help me until I had my surgery.I took 80mg of nexium a day and 300 mg of zantac at bedtime.Joy

I have to admit that my doctor isn't exactly throwing out suggestions. Everything I know about GERD I taught myself. All he did was give me Nexium for 6 months and sent me on my way. I hope this ER doc will give me some answers.

A couple of things come to mind. First I would kindly like to recommend that you make an appointment with a GI physician to be evaluated for GERD. Your physician may be able to diagnose GERD history alone or he may also suggest tests and procedures used to diagnose GERD.

Treatment for heartburn and other signs and symptoms of GERD usually begins with over-the-counter medications that control acid. If you don't experience relief within a few weeks, your doctor may recommend prescription medications.